Packer or closure for well casings



pril 24, 1934. STAHL 1,956,137

PAGKER 0R cLosURE FOR WELL cA'sINGs Filed May 9, 1952 Z Z5 Y? Z4 M. f s 2J 5;'E 0 ff Si .is Z' ff vs@ ff Z6 in I; Si E E; IE /9 sa v= :n l5 L l; as; v V f Y 15 I' Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in packers or closures for well casing and one object of the invention is the provision of a packer or clolsure which can be instantly inserted in the casing to completely close ofi oil or gas pressure and make possible the removal of all connections including the master valve.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a packer or closure of the character and for the purpose stated which will be effectively retained in the casing and also form a packing or closure which will completely stop or close the casing.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a packer or closure for oil well casings which will be composed of few parts to insure simplicity, durability and inexpensiveness of construction and whichwill be thoroughly practical in every particular.

With these objects in View, my invention consists of a packer or closure of the character described, embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts for service, substantially as described and claimed, and as shown in the accompanying\ drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a well casing showing my packer or closure in position therein, said packer being shown in dotted lines,

Fig. 2 represents a central vertical sectional view of the packer or closure and illustrated on an enlarged scale to more clearly show the details of construction, and

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

My packer or closure is used for closing the casing 1 which is sunk into a well 2 and when in use occupies a position` as shown at 3, eiiecting the complete closing of the casing.

The packer is completely shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3 and comprises the lower curved guiding cap 4 to which is screwed at 5, the tubular guiding member 6.` A tapered jaw expanding member 7, is fitted in a recess in the member 6, to slide therein. The member 7 is formed with ribs 8 and channels 9, and it has a series of jaws 10, having teeth 11 on their outer side and channels on their inner side, which channels receive the ribs 8, and the jaws slide on the expander 7.

The jaw expander 7, has a central bore 15', which has screw threads 13' at its lower end. An operating rod 15, passes through the member 7 and it has threads 13, to co-operate with the threads 13' of the member 7, and the member 15 has a smooth section 12, which swivels in the member 6, and it is held to the member 6 by means of a lock nut 18, screwed on the threads 17 at the lower end of the rod. The member 6 at its upper end has channels 6', which form 60 a continuation of the channels 9 of the member 7, and form coacting guiding channels for the jaws. When the device is lowered in the well on the rod 15, the dogs may engage the casing, but will not bite therein as they will be slightly moved upwardly on the tapered portion of the member 7.

When the device is placed in the desired position in the well, the rod 15 may be rotated. The dogs will frictionally engage the casing tending 7o to hold the expander 7 against rotation, and the expander will be moved upwardly, expanding the jaws. By rotating the rod in the opposite direction the expander will be moved downwardly relative to the dogs and contracting them.

From this construction it will be apparent that rotation of the rod l5, in one direction moves the jaw expanding member upward and forces the jaws l0 outward to bring the teeth 11, of said jaws against the inner face of the casing, thus securing the packer in place, and that movement in the reverse direction of the rod 15, causes the jaws 10, to retract or move inward to release the teeth 11, and allow removal of the packer.

The upper end of said jaw expanding member is mounted in the lower portion of the sleeve or tubular member 19, which at its upper inner portion is provided with threads 20 which engage threads 21 upon the disk or ring 22, from which rises the pair of rods 23, said rods passing through the sliding tubular member 24, whose lower edge 25 rests upon the elastic ring 26.

The said tubular member 24 is formed with a threaded opening 27 with which engages the threaded sleeve 28 on the plunger 29, and when this threaded sleeve 28 is rotated, the tubular member 24 is moved down upon the elastic or packing ring 26, which action forces the ring outward against the inner wall of the casing and forms a complete and perfect seal.

The plunger 29 is retained in proper relation by means of the ring 30 between which are the ball bearings 3l, to permit rotation without undue friction as will be understood.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawing, the operation of my packer or closure will be readily understood, and will be evident that the structure as a whole is placed in the casing and rotation of the 1rod moves the jaw expanding member to cause the jaws to clamp or bite against the inner wall ot the casing to anchor the packer in place and as soon as this is accomplished it is merely necessary to revolve the threaded sleeve of the plunger member which forces the tubular member down upon the elastic packing ring causing it to nt snugly within the casing and form a complete and perfect seal.

It will thus be evident that the gate valve is first opened and the packer inserted through said valve, permitting rod 15, and threaded tubular portion 25, to extend upward through the main gate, which allows the operation of said elements 15 and 25. When the packer is placed in position for use the Jaws 10 and 11, rest against the side or wall o1 the main casing and rotation of rod 15, imparts movement to element 'I which is forced upward and the further rotation of rod 15, causes the jaws 10 and 11, to impinge or press more tlrmly against the wall of the casing. The packer is now held rmly in place and the expansion of member or element 19, is accomplished by rotati rod 25, as will be evident. The part 24 being hreaded at the upper portion, the rotation of part 25, forces the upper portion 24, downward forcing the packer 19 against the wall ofthe casing.

The many features of merit and advantages of my packer will be readily understood and appreciated by persons skilled in the nature and use of such an invention and it will be apparent that by reason of the easy application and removal of the device, the simplicity, cheapness and durability which it possesses and its absolute efficiency and reliability will insure the production of a most practical and useful device of this character.

I claim:-

In a packer or closure of the character described, a jaw expander, a guide member slidably fitting the lower end of the expander, clamping jaws slidable on the expander, a tube connected to the upper end of the expander, a rod havingv a swiveled engagement with the guide and a screw threaded engagement with the expander and extending through the expander and tube, a packing sleeve on the tube, a packing expander at the upper end of the tube slidable but not rotatable thereon, a plunger slidable in the tube and surroundingy the rod, and a threaded engagement between the plunger and the packing expander whereby upon rotation of the plunger the packer is compressed.

FRANK STAHL. 

